British Energy returns idled reactors to service

British Energy, now part of EDF Energy, announced today that it’s completed its nuclear programme to bring back online 4 percent of the UK’s electricity generation.

The announcement came after British Energy brought Reactor 2 at Heysham 1 power station back into service. It was the last of four reactors at both Heysham and Hartlepool to be returned to service.

The four reactors were taken offline in October 2007 after a planned inspection found some corrosion on boiler closure unit wires. British Energy spent 17 months and more than three million man-hours to return the reactors to service.

The first three reactors are currently operating at full load; the fourth reactor is being gradually brought to full capacity. Together, the reactors provide about 2,350 megawatts of electricity for the UK.

“We will continue to invest in all the nuclear power plants to improve their performance and seek to extend their lives,” said Vincent de Rivaz, CEO of EDF Energy. “The value to investors of having large scale, secure, low carbon electricity generation as part of their portfolio will continue to increase in coming years as climate change and security of supply issues become more pressing.”